O mighty hero, you have abandoned the world of men and a kingdom free from enemies; you have let go of all desires, even as you protected us. Now, your sons, wives, relatives, ministers, counselors, and all your subjects of the same generation are no longer alive. Time itself—the almighty, imperishable Lord—is stronger than the strongest. Playfully, He brings all beings to their end, just as a herdsman drives cattle to their final destination. Now, choose a boon, good fortune to you! Ask for anything except liberation, for today that is not ours to give. There is but one Lord, the imperishable Bhagavān Viṣṇu, who alone can grant that. Thus addressed, the illustrious one bowed to the gods, entered the cave, and lay down, overtaken by divine sleep. When the Yavana was reduced to ashes, the Blessed Lord—best among the Sātvatas—revealed Himself to the wise Mucukunda. As Mucukunda looked upon Him, he saw a form dark as a rain cloud, clad in yellow silk, with the Śrīvatsa mark shining on His chest and the radiant Kaustubha gem. The Lord stood before him with four glowing arms, adorned with the Vaijayantī garland, a beautiful and gracious face, and sparkling makara earrings. His form was a sight to behold for all mankind: eyes smiling affectionately, ever youthful, majestic as a proud lion, and full of noble prowess. Overwhelmed by the Lord's brilliance, the wise king, cautious and awed, gently questioned Him, as if confronting an unconquerable power. Mucukunda spoke: "Who are you who have come here into this forest, into the mountain cave, wandering with your lotus-petal-like feet among thorny undergrowth? What is the brilliance of the radiant ones—be it the Lord, fire, sun, moon, Indra, guardian of the worlds, or any other—compared to yours? I consider you the foremost among the gods of gods, for you dispel the darkness of the cave as a lamp drives away night. "O best of men, if it pleases you, please tell us, who are eager to serve without fault, about your birth, deeds, and lineage. As for myself, O tiger among men, I am of the Ikshvaku clan, kshatriya kin; I am called Mucukunda, son of Yuvanashva, O Lord. Exhausted from long wakefulness, my senses dulled by sleep, I lay here alone until someone awakened me just now. That person too was surely reduced to ashes by his own wickedness; immediately after, you, glorious and renowned for subduing enemies, appeared. "Your unbearable radiance is so great that we cannot gaze upon you; O illustrious one, you are worthy of honor among embodied beings." Thus addressed by the king, the Lord—the creator of beings—replied with a smile, His voice deep as thunderclouds: "My births, deeds, and names are countless, O friend; even I cannot enumerate them, for they are infinite. Sometimes I have examined earthly births with great beings, but my births are never defined by qualities, deeds, or names. O king, my births and deeds span all three times—past, present, and future—and even the greatest sages, tracing them in order, never reach their end. "Yet, O friend, listen now as I speak of my present birth. I was requested by Brahmā long ago to protect dharma. To relieve the earth's burden and destroy the asuras, I descended into the Yadu lineage, in the house of Anakadundubhi; people call me Vāsudeva, the son of Vasudeva. Kalanemi, Kamsa, Pralamba, and other evil ones have been slain; this Yavana too has been burned, O king, by your fierce gaze. "I have come to this cave for your sake, to show you favor; you prayed to me greatly in the past, and I am devoted to my devotees. Choose your boons, O royal sage; I grant you all desires. One who has my favor need never grieve again." Śuka said: Thus addressed, Mucukunda, joyful, bowed to Him, recognizing Nārāyaṇa and recalling the words of Garga. Mucukunda replied: "O Lord, people are deluded by your māyā and do not worship you, seeing only misfortune. Seeking happiness, they become attached to homes, women, and men, and are deceived. O sinless one, when a person attains this rare human birth here, somehow, with a sound body and without effort, yet does not worship your lotus feet due to a misguided mind, he falls into the dark well of household life like an animal. "O Unconquered Lord, my time has passed fruitlessly, being a king intoxicated by royal opulence, absorbed in the mortal conception of self, and deeply attached to children, wife, wealth, and possessions, tormented by endless anxieties. In this body, which is like a clay pot, I was established as 'king of men,' surrounded by chariots, elephants, horses, infantry, and retinues, roaming the earth in great arrogance, not counting anyone else. "Intoxicated, I was absorbed in loud thoughts of what to do next, with ever-increasing greed, craving for sense pleasures; but you, unbewildered, suddenly approach, O Death, like a snake licking a mouse's hole. Once, riding in chariots adorned with gold, or on mighty elephants, I was called 'king of men'; but by the inescapable force of time, this very body becomes known as excrement, worms, or ashes. "Having conquered the circle of directions, assuming a form as vast as the earth, seated on a splendid throne and honored by other kings, a man is led, O Lord, like a plaything of women, into the pleasures of the home, as a beast for their sport. Even one who performs actions, firmly established in austerity, having renounced enjoyment and giving charity as required, again desires, 'May I become a sovereign king,' and with growing thirst, does not attain happiness. "When, after wandering in worldly existence, a person attains liberation, O Infallible One, it is then that he gains the association of the virtuous; and when such association occurs, at that very moment, devotion to you, Lord of all, arises. "O Lord, I consider it your favor upon me that, by chance, attachment to kingdom has been removed—something sought by the virtuous, who, desiring to enter the forest, renounce the unbroken expanse of land. O Master, I do not desire any boon other than service at your feet, which is most sought after even by those who have nothing; for who, having worshiped you, the giver of liberation, would choose any other boon that binds the soul? "Therefore, O Lord, abandoning all desires everywhere, which are bound to the qualities of passion, ignorance, and goodness, I approach you—the pure, qualityless, nondual, supreme Person, who is pure consciousness.